My first post here, so hi everyone and thanks for a very informative site.
I have used the 602CB for some 8 years, heating a small wooden chalet attached to a mobile home. It knocks out a tremendous amount of heat and I can get overnight burns, such that I just throw on a few splits in the morning, open it up and away it goes. The walls of this place are insulated, but there are gaps and draughts all over the place. The weather might not be what you would call cold, but frequently hovers around or below freezing point overnight at this time of year. The stove is used from say October to March. There is no thermal mass to this building, so when the fire dies down, it gets cold. In this situation, and with a flue of only between 3-4 metres, the control of the fire is not the easiest. My wife still doesn't seem to "get it"!
I convinced a friend to get a wood burning stove, and he bought a F 100. Whilst I haven't lived with this stove, I have used it, and occasionally light it for him, before he comes over to stay. The F 100 is currently the only Jotul stove (that I know of), that has two air controls. The one is used for starting the fire and is closed off as soon as it is firing OK. When up to temperature, and using well seasoned wood, this stove reacts to the control virtually like a gas fire. The flame is quite visible through the door - much more so than the 602 CB - and modulates superbly with the air control, much more so than my 602 CB. The F 100 is very easy to light, but the 602 CB is not difficult either.
The 602 CB can actually take the same length log as the F 100 according to the specs, whilst the burn time and heat output is marginally higher for the F 100.
My 602 CB (blue/black paint) still looks in great condition and is a very simple stove. I have cleaned it out a few times, by lifting the hotplate and found virtually nothing. The rope seals are still original and working great. The F100 is currently awaiting Defra approval, which I think may be a higher standard than EPA. It means that the stove can be used to burn wood in smokless zones in the UK. There are currently very few stoves with this approval, although the Morso range seem to have come through with flying colours.
I have been very happy with the 602 CB, but would think that the F 100 would be easier to control and live with - it has an ash pan, if you want to use it. If I were to buy again I would probably go with the F 100.
Just as a P.S.
The 602 is a very old design that has had the cleanburn equipment tacked on to the insides. This uses up valuable log space at the back of the firebox, and so reduces the amount of long logs that can be added. The control is a bit hit and miss. To get my overnight burns, I have to flick the control with my fingernail with just the right amount of force, to nearly close it, but not quite! The F 100 seems much less finicky.
Regards,
Steve D.
Tested to UL standards is what most people refer to as "UL Listed". Your F3 is "UL listed". UL Certified items have been tested by UL itself and UL listed items have been tested by independant certification labs to insure compliance with UL standards. Jotul has their stoves tested by Warnock Hersey a, UL approved testing firm.
